New electric supplier wanted

Messages
6,001
I have a modest holiday home that I rent out.
My electricity contract is coming up for renewal.
Current (ahem) supplier is Opus and I am less than pleased with them.
I have looked on line and the others will all be calling me back (no direct quotes available at all)
I wondered if the might of this Forum had some experiences and guidance to hand
Business tariffs only please
Thank you
 

RobinL

Member
Messages
456
Just wondering why business tariff only? The only reason usually is VAT reclaim but as VAT on energy is only 5% then (for me) my rentals and let's are all on domestic tariff.
Unless you use significant energy and achieve bulk tariff then I have previously found the charges and rate for business have always been higher? Just curious.

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GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
I have a modest holiday home that I rent out.
My electricity contract is coming up for renewal.
Current (ahem) supplier is Opus and I am less than pleased with them.
I have looked on line and the others will all be calling me back (no direct quotes available at all)
I wondered if the might of this Forum had some experiences and guidance to hand
Business tariffs only please
Thank you

We do commercial energy procurement, and my recommendation is the same as Robin says, don't do a business contract. Go onto Uswitch and fill in your details and get the best contract from there.

Unless you have an 03 or higher meter, a domestic contract will always be better/cheaper than a commercial contract.

If you have any queries, just drop me a message. We do the procurement for a few guys businesses on here, so happy to advise.
I also do mates rates as well.
 
Messages
6,001
Apparently because I do not live there (or anyone else) permanently but let it out over 11 months of the year I am running a business, hence the contract.
I have enquired about a domestic tariff but living there is the no.1 criteria.
I will try again
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
Apparently because I do not live there (or anyone else) permanently but let it out over 11 months of the year I am running a business, hence the contract.
I have enquired about a domestic tariff but living there is the no.1 criteria.
I will try again

Ignore that. It's a domestic residence. You might not be living there, but others do. (when they rent it).

It's no different renting it out long term and you paying the bills.
 
Messages
6,001
Yes but for a domestic tariff the electric company need proof that it is domestic i.e Council Tax bill (which states none domestic)
 

lifes2short

Member
Messages
5,821
Yes but for a domestic tariff the electric company need proof that it is domestic i.e Council Tax bill (which states none domestic)

that's just a load of poppycock from which ever supplier you're talking about, a domestic property is a domestic property, why on earth does your council tax bill state non domestic ???
 

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
Messages
9,033
Energy suppliers really **** me off.
Out of contract with Scottish Power, no deals available any better than the standard dual fuel.
Check as though a new customer, good deal available.
Check Martin Lewis and they list a good deal for existing customers.
Phone them up.
Can only offer what is on their Web site as an existing customer.
Question why I can't move to one advertised as a new customer.
Sorry not available to you.
What about the one advised by Martin Lewis?
Sorry not available to you.
But it says, available to existing customers?
Well, err, yes, but I can't switch you.
How do I get it then?
You have to do it via the Martin Lewis Web site and then they advise us about you wanting to switch.
Hang up, and switch via Martin Lewis Web site, which they openly get £25 commission and I also get £25 cashback!
Ridiculous carry on, although now still with Scottish Power but on a good deal.

Did the same with BT the day before, saving nearly £50 a month!
 
Messages
6,001
It is a holiday home on a site of other homes. It is rented out 11 months of the year
The Council tax bill is None Domestic
How can I get around this?
 

lifes2short

Member
Messages
5,821
It is a holiday home on a site of other homes. It is rented out 11 months of the year
The Council tax bill is None Domestic
How can I get around this?

very odd that, have you not tried querying that with the local authority, never heard of an energy supplier wanting to see proof that a house is indeed a house, surely it comes up on royal mail database as all the other homes there or was it originally a commercial property turned back in to a house again but still on RM database as commercial and with the LA ?
 

Moz1000

Member
Messages
820
It is a holiday home on a site of other homes. It is rented out 11 months of the year
The Council tax bill is None Domestic
How can I get around this?
I think if the property is rented out for more than 18 weeks per year then it's classed as a business (might be more or less). Doesn't actually need to be occupied just marketed as such. In which case you should be able to claim business relief on the council tax (I think!). But you may then have to pay commercial rates for your services. Are there any other property owners living in their properties? Or are they all just for holiday lets? You need to see what others are doing regarding their services.
 
Messages
6,001
All (maybe 100 or so) are purpose built holiday lets.
Nobody lives there permanently for 12 months although I could occupy it for 11 months. January being the month when the site is unoccupied and maintenance is carried out.
All as far as I know are on business tariff.
It does have a proper postal address and as I say could be used continuously for 11 months by me or anyone else for that matter
 

lifes2short

Member
Messages
5,821
I think if the property is rented out for more than 18 weeks per year then it's classed as a business (might be more or less). Doesn't actually need to be occupied just marketed as such. In which case you should be able to claim business relief on the council tax (I think!). But you may then have to pay commercial rates for your services. Are there any other property owners living in their properties? Or are they all just for holiday lets? You need to see what others are doing regarding their services.

that's not right, regardless of whether rental property or not if it's a domestic property then it should be on a normal domestic tariff, i have a number of rentals and all on domestic tariffs
 

lifes2short

Member
Messages
5,821
All (maybe 100 or so) are purpose built holiday lets.
Nobody lives there permanently for 12 months although I could occupy it for 11 months. January being the month when the site is unoccupied and maintenance is carried out.
All as far as I know are on business tariff.
It does have a proper postal address and as I say could be used continuously for 11 months by me or anyone else for that matter

i am totally confused by this and now intrigued, still cannot see a valid reason why you are on a business tariff when clearly a domestic property ????
 

lifes2short

Member
Messages
5,821
keep us posted and would be interesting to know what reasons you're given if any to be on commercial tariff